Pastors

Rev. Dr. Craig Sheppard is from Wichita, Kansas and a graduate of the University of Kansas with a B.A. degree in Communication Studies. He also holds an M.Div. degree in Missions and a Th.M. degree in Theology from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS, and a Ph.D. degree in Theology from the University of Wales. He and his wife Lisa have been blessed with five children (four sons and a daughter).After serving eight years in campus ministry, including four years in Jackson where Craig directed the college ministry of First Presbyterian Church, the Sheppards moved to the mission field. In June of 1996 they arrived in Sofia, Bulgaria to begin a church planting ministry with Mission to the World (MTW). There they planted a church, established a translation and publishing company, and, along with missionary colleagues and friends, started a Classical Christian school for missionary children (the Sofia Christian Academy). Craig led pastor training conferences and taught theology and Bible at the Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute. From 2002 to 2009 He also served as the MTW Regional Director for Eastern Europe.In June of 2009, after 13 years in Bulgaria, the Sheppards returned to the United States where Craig accepted the call to serve as the Senior Pastor of Bethel Church PCA in Dallas, TX. In June of 2013 they began their ministry at Arden Presbyterian. Craig also teaches missions at RTS Charlotte and regularly travels back to Bulgaria to teach Bible, theology and ministry skills. He enjoys woodworking, sports, and especially Kansas basketball.

Rev. Dwight Basham, a native of Christiansburg, Virginia, graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.A. degree in Music and a M.A. degree in Music Education. He taught junior and senior high school choral music at public schools in Virginia and North Carolina before graduating with a M. Div. degree from Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC.He also served pastorates in Virginia and Tennessee before joining the Arden staff in 2014. He and his wife Pepper have five children: Benjamin, Aaron, Lydia, Samuel, and Phoebe.Dwight is grateful for the opportunity to combine his musical and pastoral gifts at Arden. In his spare time he enjoys reading, playing tennis, and hiking.

Gabe Malloy was born in Springfield, Massachusetts but grew up mostly in Tampa, Florida. He graduated from Florida Southern University with a B.S. in Biology. During college Gabe was actively involved in RUF. In 2014 he graduated from Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia with a Master of Divinity degree. Gabe has over fifteen years of experience teaching science and philosophy in the public school system. He has also spent many years coaching track, cross country, and soccer.

Gabe’s wife Jennifer is originally from Scotland. They have four children: Hannah, Abigail, Gabriel, and Lily. Gabe’s favorite living pastor/theologian is Dr. Sinclair Ferguson. Some of his interests include running, hiking, cycling, playing sports, reading, playing board games, eating chocolate and drinking coffee.

Nathan Francis grew up in Richmond, VA. and graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.A. in Graphic Design in 2003. While in college, he served with The Navigators campus ministry, including two summers in Japan. He continued his involvement with them after college as Associate Staff. Through this ministry he received training and fell in love with discipleship and evangelism. After college, he remained in Blacksburg, VA and worked for 10 years in the Information Technology field in design, support, and project management. It was here that he also met and married his wife, Lori.

The Lord steadily grew Nathan's desire for pastoral ministry, which led him and his growing family to Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC. From there he earned a Masters of Divinity in 2017. They have 4 daughters: Emily, Katie, Amy, and Caroline.

Nathan loves being outside and is excited to be living back in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. He enjoys cycling, building things, and camping.